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Thieves Strike Christmas Store in Vineyard Haven

The holiday spirit was not in the air last weekend at the Eden Garden Center.

Tisbury police responded to a call Sunday morning from the Tea Lane Christmas Shoppe reporting a robbery. The store is located at the garden center at 259 State Road.

The call came at 10:40 a.m from an employee who arrived to work to find the padlock from the front door removed, the entire cash register and its contents gone and a donation box for the Red Stocking Fund missing.

Sgt. Rodney Silvia said this week there was no evidence of forced entry or damage inside the building.

Office manager Mia Espy said: “There wasn’t a lot of damage done, but it kind of puts a damper on the holiday.”

Ms. Espy said lights at the store, which is open from 9 a.m to 5:30 p.m, stay on until 11 p.m each night. They go back on at 6 a.m. The door is locked with a padlock. She said the break-in must have occurred at some point late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Tea Lane Nursery has leased the Eden store for seven holiday seasons. In that time, Sergeant Silvia said he has responded to reports of stolen trees and wreaths, but never to a break-in.

The sergeant said the police have no leads at this time.

Matthew Tobin, owner and president of the nursery, said: “It was sort of more shocking than anything. But, they didn’t steal our magic. Our hearts haven’t gone bad. We’re still out here wishing people a Merry Christmas.”

After news of the break-in started to spread, Mr. Tobin said, people started calling or stopping in to make donations to the Red Stocking Fund. He encourages those interested to get in touch with the fund directly.